A U.S. military aircraft appears in a still image released by U.S. Central Command during operations against ISIS in Syria on January 10, 2026 | Image released by U.S. Central Command
The U.S. military carried out multiple airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets across Syria on Saturday in a retaliatory campaign that began in December after an attack killed two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a civilian interpreter, officials confirmed.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the strikes occurred early Saturday afternoon (U.S. Eastern Time) and targeted ISIS militants and infrastructure across multiple locations in Syria. The operation continues a mission launched on Dec. 19, 2025, known as Operation Hawkeye Strike, which followed a deadly ISIS ambush near Palmyra in central Syria.
The December attack killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel “Nate” Howard of the Iowa National Guard and their American interpreter, Ayad Mansoor Sakat, in what U.S. officials described as an Islamic State-linked assault.
CENTCOM did not immediately release casualty figures from Saturday’s airstrikes, and the Pentagon has provided few details beyond confirming the operation’s continuation. The strikes are part of a broader U.S. and partner effort to degrade ISIS capabilities and disrupt its ability to carry out future attacks. Approximately 1,000 U.S. troops remain stationed in Syria, where they have operated alongside partner forces against ISIS in recent months.
Syria Context: Aleppo Clashes Continue
U.S. officials have not linked the ISIS strikes to the Aleppo fighting, which involves separate internal disputes between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led groups.
While the U.S. focuses on ISIS, fighting between Syrian government forces and Kurdish-led fighters has continued in the northern city of Aleppo, highlighting ongoing instability in the war-torn country. Syrian authorities reported that security forces entered Kurdish-majority neighborhoods after several days of intense clashes that have killed dozens and displaced more than 140,000 people.
The clashes — some of the fiercest since the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 — stem from disputes over implementing a March 2025 agreement designed to integrate Kurdish forces into Syria’s national army and state institutions. Kurdish groups and the government have traded blame for the renewal of hostilities.
Drone strikes have disrupted civilian flights at Aleppo International Airport, and a drone reportedly struck the Aleppo governorate building during a government press briefing, according to local reporting.
U.S. Diplomacy and Calls for Restraint
The United States, which has maintained relationships with both Syrian authorities and Kurdish forces, has called for restraint and a return to negotiations. U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack met with Syrian leadership and urged all parties to cease hostilities and uphold the March 2025 agreement.
Though separate from the U.S. strikes on ISIS, the Aleppo clashes underscore the complexities of Syria’s security landscape, where internal political disputes and the enduring threat of extremist groups persist side by side.
The Dallas Express will continue to monitor developments in Syria and U.S. military operations.